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NHL 09

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9.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 25 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 28 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Canada

Genre(s): Hockey, Sports

Players: 12

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: September 9, 2008

Summary

NHL 09 builds on the momentum of last year, with innovative controls, added depth and new features designed to help newcomers jump into the series. The Skill Stick System evolves to bring an unparalleled level of control to the defensive side of the puck. The all new Defensive Skill Stick gives you the ability to sweep your stick to block passing lanes and lift an opponent's stick to prevent one-timers. Take your game online with 6 vs.6 team play, where 12 people can play together on 12 different consoles around the world. With new teams from the Russian, Czech Republic and German Elite leagues, NHL 09 connects hockey fans around the globe like never before. Players new to the series can now shoot, pass and check with ease. NHL 09 features Be A Pro, a game mode that puts you on the ice with a dynamic new 3rd person camera that allows you to play the role of one player. With a performance tracker grading your progress in more than 50 categories, you know exactly where you need to improve to become the next NHL superstar. [Electronic Arts]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: NHL 07 NHL 08

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Gaming Age

EA didn't just make their game look, sound, and play superbly, but they even brought their "A" game when it comes to features as well.

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100

Gamervision

With barely a visual hitch, exceptional presentation, engaging online, improved controls and an unmatched level of realism, there’s almost nothing to prevent a full recommendation to any fan of hockey or sports games in general.

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Destructoid

The game is a vast improvement on what was already a fantastic product in NHL 08, which is due in great part to this year’s pioneering (and addictive) modes.

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GameFocus

With NHL 09, you not only get the best hockey game but by-far the best sports game available on the market right now. The ‘Be a Pro’ mode is solid and the plethora of options make this a hard game not to play.

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Game Informer

With its unparalleled controls, refined presentation, and unrivaled selection of game modes, NHL 09 is the best hockey game ever created.

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Gamer 2.0

Otherwise, NHL 09 is easily in the running for the title of Best Hockey Game Ever, with some people leaning towards one of the great games of the past and others leaning towards the dearth of great modes in NHL 09.

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GameZone

If you are a sports fan, regardless of whether you would class yourself as a hockey fan, this is the game to play. It has the right pacing, can lure you in and brings a lot of depth and entertainment value.

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HellBored

It is engrossing, and it is thorough. It has simple plug and play exhibition game mode for casual fans, and in depth stats, analysis, and career modes for the die hard. If you are a hockey fan or a sports game enthusiast, this is the game for you.

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GameSpot

Move over Blades of Steel, NHL 09 has earned its place among the greatest sports games of all time.

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Playstation Universe

NHL 09 will not only win Sports Game of the Year, but could definitely hold a strong argument for greatest sports title of all time. EA Canada has truly outdone itself this time around the rink.

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GameDaily

Last year's race between 2K Sports and EA Sports' hockey franchises was almost a dead heat. This year, EA's NHL 09 takes Lord Stanley's Cup, thanks to a combination of what worked well last year and some sweet new features.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

There's a ton of depth here - line changes and create-a-play customisations are just the start - but the main thing is that it plays fast and fluid [Oct 2008, p.104]

IGN

NHL 09 isn’t just a great hockey game, it’s one of the best sports games to be released in the last decade.

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GamingXP

You will only experience more ice hockey feeling live on TV! Electronic Art has created a game that doesn’t have to worry about competition. Simply the best in the genre!

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Worth Playing

NHL 09 is as real of a hockey game as it can get. It looks great, sounds good (if repetitive), plays great and has an amazing set of features.

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Cheat Code Central

With its beautiful presentation, broadcast-like feel, smooth control scheme, and innovative new online functions, NHL 09 is not only the best hockey title on the market, it may very well be the best of all-time.

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Play UK

A breathtakingly well-made sports game, with almost nothing to fault and everything to enjoy. Accessible, deep, attractive and brutal in equal measure, and highly, highly entertaining.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

EA have once again upped the ante on an already sterling series. [Oct 2008, p.78]

Pelit (Finland)

Be a Pro mode closes the gap between sport and roleplaying games. [Sept 2008]

1UP

2K Sports' "NHL 2K9" is not a bad game, especially if you'd rather get out there and play than spend time learning button combos. But even with its few warts, NHL 09 is simply too big, too adventurous, too pretty, and too danged consuming to be considered anything other than the best hockey videogame ever produced.

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GameShark

NHL 09 is not a simulation of professional hockey. It’s a game. A fun game, no doubt, but it’s more like an entertaining movie based on a good book which was based on actual events.

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DarkZero

In the end, probably the best remark I can make about the game is that it is one of more accessible available from the selection of EA Sports branded titles, and as a result of this, it’s probably one of the most fun to play.

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G4 TV

It’s almost a perfect game. Severe online connection bugs and freezing problems hamper the experience enough that we can’t give it a full five out of five.

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Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

In short, if you're a hockey nut and you're trying to decide which game to throw your hockey dollars at, look no further than NHL 09. [Nov 2008, p.86]

Game Revolution

If it’s hockey you’re looking for, get ready to lose a few teeth and go tough it out already.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a7:
Pros: game looks great, opponent AI is smart, good degree of control for team strategy, innovative player controls cons: teammate AI is horrible, framerate issues, no season/stanley cup mode, control takes a lot of getting used to and still doesn't always feel self-intuitive conclusion: the steep learning curve may be frustrating for many people. aside from that, its great if you want to put the time into learning to play, or for be a pro mode. if youre not interested in BAP, dynasty is good, but if you don't like the depth, the lack of other modes would make me encourage you to look elsewhere.

peter G gave it an8:
I'm glad that EA sports has finally decided to put some effort into their NHL games. For a while there, they never really added huge things to the gameplay until NHL08, which actually surprised me despite the fact that there wasn't very many game modes. this year, I was thinking that this game would be pretty much the same as 08, until I realised that there was be a pro, thats why I got this game. Although Be a pro mode to me was disappointing becaus they expect so much out of you even tohugh your linemates can't even do a freaken one timer.... However, there were some additions that I did like and the main thing being the online league.... that is awesome!!

david l gave it a10:
In hockey it doesn't get much better then this. I've owned about 10 different NHL games in my lifetime all the way dating to NHL94. there is a huge improvement over nhl08. the game isn't drastically different but there are so many fine tuned areas that needed adjustments in 08' and they hit it pretty dead on with 09'. they use the same gfx engine but cleaned it up and fixed the framerate issues that were seen in 08. online is fantastic, once in a while i run into lag but it gives you the option to only play people only in your region so that can help avoiding lag. generally after a while of playing iif you know what you are doing the games are fair online and there are no real exploits that i know of right now that work. there was one goal exploit but it was fixed within a month or so of release. ****10/10 in my book, a must buy.

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